There are around 600 species of wild bees in Germany. Now, 300 of these can be identified using the ‘Wildbienen Id BienABest’ identification app. The smartphone app, which was developed in collaboration with Ulm University, offers further features such as identification criteria for identifying live specimens and, of course, high-resolution photos. A web-based version has also recently become available.
‘Wildbienen Id BienABest’ was created back in 2021 as part of the ‘BienABest’ collaborative project run by theAssociation of German Engineers (VDI e.V.) and the Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conversation Genomics at Ulm University, aimed at promoting wild bees and their pollination services. Initially, it was able to identify around one hundred of the most common and distinctive wild bees in Germany. The app is designed to inspire interested members of the public about the diversity of wild bees found in Germany, whilst also serving as a valuable identification aid for wild bee experts. The smartphone app, like the new PC version, is characterised by its ease of use and clear structure.
In the new version, detailed photographs by wild bee expert Hans Schwenninger have been added for a further 200 species. These so-called ‘stacked’ images clearly show all the key identification features, such as body shape, colour of the abdomen and the bee’s hairiness. The photographs make it possible to compare the observed insects and thus identify the correct species and its description. In addition, Erwin Scheuchl, author of identification guides on wild bees, has developed several identification keys. “Anyone starting out in wild bee identification first focuses on identifying the bee genus, which groups closely related species. However, experts can also proceed directly to species identification within a bee genus,” says Dr Hannah Burger, scientific research associate and project coordinator at BienABest. The app contains photos and accompanying texts on the individual species, as well as distribution maps. The comparison function allows several species to be compared with one another.
A particular benefit of the mobile smartphone version is that bees can be identified and classified whilst still alive, right there on the spot, thereby helping to conserve populations. “The new version, featuring 300 species, provides an important foundation for the training of wild bee experts. The identification key is now even more intuitive,” emphasises Professor Manfred Ayasse, who is responsible for the scientific aspects of the overall BienABest project.
The ‘Wildbienen Id BienABest’ app, developed in collaboration with Sunbird Images, can be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The basic version of the app features one hundred of the most common and distinctive wild bees in Germany, as well as the honey bee. An in-app purchase allows users to expand the app to 300 species and access the genus identification key. The PC version is freely accessible following registration.
About BienABest:
The app was developed as part of the joint project ‘BienABest – Standardised recording of wild bees to evaluate pollinator potential in the agricultural landscape’ by the VDI and the University of Ulm; funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, as well as the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. The multi-year research project (2017–2023) aimed to halt the decline of wild bees in Germany and to highlight the benefits of pollinators for people and nature. Almost 80 per cent of native wild and cultivated plants rely on pollination by insects – including wild bees. Nevertheless, just under half of all wild bee species in Germany are on the ‘Red List’. The project also used the app for training of wild bee experts. In addition, wild bee pastures and nesting sites have been created; their success has been assessed through large-scale monitoring, and conservation measures have been optimised to safeguard the populations of endangered and declining wild bee species in the long term.
Links to download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sunbirdimages.bienen_id&hl=de
https://apps.apple.com/at/app/wildbienen-id-bienabest/id1562271273
Text and media enquiries: Daniela Stang